Equalizing while inverted

[diveprof]

Good tips so far. I agree with equalizing at the surface before descent. When free diving you DO descend faster than on scuba (if you want to make that breath last)... so part two of suggestions - technique:
With a closed mouth, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, bend your head back and swallow while pinching your nose closed. One side slower to clear? Then lean your head away from that side and clear again. For skin diving you will find that you need to clear more frequently than on scuba.The more you practice it (this works for scuba too) the less of an issue this becomes. At this point a good closed yawn works for me. Peace (isn't that what freediving is about anyway?)

 

[Grzzlymuffn]

I have trouble with a sticky ear since I started diving, and having just done my Aida 2 star here's the technique they recommend.

Pre-equalize at the surface whilst breathing up.
Equalise as soon as you duck dive.
Use the Frenzel technique, constantly equalise, and keep your chin tucked! if you look down you'll lock up.
If that fails, right yourself, equalise, and carry on.

It does work. I kept locking up at about 10m as I was always looking for the base plate and not equalising enough.
I've found that good freedive practice has actually really helped my ear problem.

Hope some of that helps.

 

[highdesert]

Clearing has always been a problem for me; I experience the same issue as you if I'm inverted. Optimal (for me, YMMV) is horizontal trim, knees bent roughly 90 degrees, head up, a la skydiver. And even in that trim, I clear after every breath until I'm at depth. This works well for me, and every alternative I've ever tried seems not to work as well.